Member Movie Reviews

What's not to like with Daniel Craig in a film??? This actor keeps amazing me...he is so much more then just Bond. A keeper.

Movie Reviews

Great filming, great acting, fascinating story.

cinemaniak | New York | 02/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This film took me back to Russia. The scenery and characters played true to life. The ugly rows upon rows of apartments, the village homes, the Moscow winter slush, and the beautiful white Russian snow, which seems to hide everything that is wrong and ugly.

I fell in love with Yekaterina Rednikova. She reminded me of some of the wonderful interpreters I had on my many trips to Moscow and the interior. Daniel Craig was lifelike. Just like you or me. (No Schwarzenegger, Pierce Brosnan, or Bruce Willis here). Gabriel Macht was an irritant. A necessary fool.

The story, based on the book by Robert Harris, played up to the world's fascination with Stalin, Hitler and the like. Okay, but not as good as Snow Wolf by Glenn Meade. The movie played up to my fascination with Russia and its people. I was not disappointed."

FROM RUSSIA WITH CRAIG

Michael C. Smith | San Francisco, CA United States | 04/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Archangel" is a treat for fans of mystery, international intrigue, and the spy genre. Shot in the dead of winter in Russia the film is visually stunning and eye opening to the beauty of the country. Before you watch the film make a big mug of hot chocolate and jump into your "Snuggy" and hunker down in your favorite chair, for I assure you the Russian winter transcends the television screen and will envelop you as you watch the movie.

The story is a complex and dangerous tale involving a race to find the illegitimate son of Stalin. It is a wild idea that somehow seems almost possible and certainly is filled with exciting possibilities as the story unfolds. All involved in this film do their very best to make it work and in the end they succeed.

Daniel Craig is just wonderful in his role as the Dr. Kelso, a bookish expert on Stalin and communist Russia who is drawn into an adventure of a lifetime during a conference in Moscow. Released just a year before "Casino Royale" Mr. Craig shows his range in this early foray into Bond like territory. His performance is as solid to the bone as it is captivating and even at times, moving. He carries the film with ease, and draws another memorable character in his impressive list of credits. .

The only disappointment for me was that "Archangel" being made for British television is not presented in widescreen. If you are a fan of Daniel Craig's you are in for a treat, if you are a fan of adventure, action, and mystery this is a must for your DVD collection"

Wonderful!

Chrissy K. McVay | North Carolina | 02/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A stunning masterpiece with a great cast! A British Professor specializing in Russian history, primarily Stalin, is pulled into a communist plot. Blinded by his love of facts and accurate documentation, the Professor is lured into a mystery surrounding Stalin's past by an old man who claims to have buried a diary that reveals important and unknown truths about the ruthless dictator. The secret turns out to be one that can impact Russia's future. Intent on finding the truth, the Professor, a journalist friend, and a call girl search for the pieces, not realizing that they are being used to further a diabolical plot. The plan unfolds and it may be too late to stop.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author"

Great action movie.

Robin King | Fort Dodge, Iowa | 07/31/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Archangel is a well written and finely acted action thriller. A lot like a "National Treasure" for adults. Fast paced and with enough real history to make it interesting. With all the plot twists fitted together making it easy to enjoy."

Stalin .... a mad man that the world has never seen before o

Cynthia Sorgenfrei | New York | 08/05/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Russian history enthusiasts will love this film. This movie made me wonder about the story of the USSR and the rise of Josef Stalin. Unlike other notorious world leaders, Stalin (the focus of this tale) was more ruthless and murderous than any of the other infamous dictators in history combined. A fearsome threat to his own people as well as the world, even the USA, Great Britan, France and the WW-II allies feared taking action against Stalin and instead fought with him against Hitler and Germany. Stalin died in 1953.

If you want to know more about Russia's most ruthless dictator, Josef Stalin, see this movie.

Arch Angel, is a superb mystery/thriller (based on the book) about a university history professor searching for answers to a very young female hired to work for Stalin during his reign. The story takes place in modern day Russia. The search for answers takes this professor and his party of three to a remote Russian city known as "Arch Angel".

The story is a riveting, action packed, nail biter. But the ending left much to be desired--from the DVD I saw there really was no ending. This is the only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5. Much of the story, but not all, is written in English captions.

See this movie. It sparked my interest in Stalin and I read more about this dictator in Winipekia, which has some superior and unique online information.

Stalin was a horrifying man unlike any other. He made Saddam Hussien look like Santa Claus."